Hydraulic mining apparatus



May 20, 1941.

O. GRUNDBORG HYDRAULIC MINING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Olaffi'cwzdbmg BY |l|l|lII|I IIIh II llllllalll Filed Sept. 9, 1937 y20,1941- 0. GRUNDBORG 2,242,520

HYDRAULIC MINING APPARATUS Fild Sept. 9, 1937 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 N?INVENTQR M MM ATTORNEY5 May 20,1941. 0. GRUNDBQRG I HYDRAULIC MININGAPPARATUS Filed S ot. 9, 1937 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 I \Yla I I I III/I I III,

.0 5 mm MS m m firm m m M w 0 W y O.GRUNDBORGI' 2,242,520

HYDRAULIC MINING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 9, 1937 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOROlaf fiyzmdbarg BY 4M4, l- M TORNEY y o. GRUNDBORG 2,242,520

' HYDRAULIC MINING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 9, 1937 air WE N m w A HYDRAULIC MINING APPARATUS Filed Sept. '9, 1937 8 Sheets-Sheet6 a INVENTOR v Qlaf' G'wmfiong ATTORNEYS May 20, 1941. o. GRUNDBORG2,242,520

HYDRAULIC MINING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 9, 1937 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR1Z9 135 85 v Olaf fimmdborg M I 4- M ATTO NEY May 20,1941,

' o. GRUNDBORG HYDRAULIC MINING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 9 1937 8 Sheets-Sheet B INVENTOR Qla zf finanlibwg m mmkvs Patented May 20, 1941UNITED STATES FATENT QFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in hydraulic mining dredges andapparatus therefor.

A primary object of the invention is to provide such apparatus which isespecially suited to the mining and reduction to a silt-like consistencyof submerged gold bearing deposits of clay and th like, which, owing tothe mutually adherent and agglomerative tendencies of the particlescomprising the same, cannot by known methods be mined eificiently andeffectively and reduced to the silt-like consistency required forrecovery of the gold.

This object is accomplished in accordance with the invention byemployment of a dredge having a pivotally elevatable suction pipeprojecting therefrom and terminating in a power driven rotary excavatorof special construction such that it functions to excavate the clay-likeearth in the form of thin shavings which are immediately broken up, inpassing over the excavator cutter blades, into particles of suchfineness that they are easily reduced to a fine silt due to the churningaction to which they are subjected in transit along with largequantities of water through the suction pipe, etc. to the goldextracting apparatus.

The relatively soft clay-like deposits referred to usually occur assurface layers which are backed by much harder, denser and richer goldbearing beds, requiring an excavator of more rugged and differentconstruction and operation from that which is best adapted todisintegration of the clay-like surface layer. further object of theinvention is to provide a power driven rotary excavator of novelconstruction for the mining of such denser deposits, such excavatorbeing capable of moving and casting aside rocks of sizes larger thanthose which may safely be passed through the suction pump.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for sooperating the excavator, particularly the type last referred to, thatthe axis of the excavator will automatically be maintained substantiallyhorizontal as the suction pipe is elevated and depressed, this being theposition in which the latter type of excavator operates most effectivelyon such deposits.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision ofnovel means for so maneuvering the dredge that excavation may be carriedon with little or no interruption. This consists of a series of cablesextending from power driven drums on the dredge to appropriate mooringswhereby the dredge may be advanced, retarded 0r Accordingly a laterallydisplaced or may be pivoted about its stern for swinging the bow backand forth and with it the suction pipe projecting from the bow, so thatthe excavator may be swung back and forth continuously across an area tobe mined.

To permit of elevating and depressing the suction pipe and also ofpivoting the dredge about its stern, certain joints in the pipe lineconveying the excavated material from the excavator to.

the recovery equipment must be articulated in such manner as to providesubstantially waterand-air-tight swivel joints between pipe sections. Afurther object of the invention is to provide novel arrangements foreffecting such junctions.

These and other objects of the invention will be explained more indetail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows schematically a plan view, and Fig, 2a side elevation of adredge in accordance with the invention, these figures also depicting indashed lines various positions which may be assumed by the dredge andthe elevatable suction pipe during excavation.

Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view of the dredge primarily illustrative ofthe arrangements of the mooring cables above referred to, employed formaneuvering the dredge.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial section at 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing thedetails of the water-andair-tight articulated joint between theelevatable suction pipe and a stationary pipe section. This view alsoincludes some of the details of the power drive for the rotaryexcavator.

Fig. 5 shows in side elevation on an enlarged scale, a strut and collararrangement for rotatably supporting the articulated pipe and powerdrive junction shown in detail in Fig. 4. Fig. 5 also shows a portion ofthe mechanism for maintaining the axis of the rotary excavatorsubstantially horizontal when required.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section at 6-6 of Fig. 1 showing thedetails of a watertight anti-friction bearing for the excavator driveshaft.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section at l'i of Fig. 2 showing themanner in which the excavator'is journaled to the suction pipe terminus,and also the gearing whereby the excavator is rotated by the power driveshaft; while Fig. 8 is a section at 88 of Fig. 7 showingthe arrangementof the excavator in rear elevation and the gearing arrangement insectional elevation.

Figs. 9, l0 and 11 are respectively a side ele vation, a front endelevation and a section at Il-ll of Fig. 9, of the excavator inaccordance with the invention for excavating the soft claylike surfacelayer.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged partial sectional elevation at I2-| 2 of Fig. 1showing the manner in which the outlet pipe from the suction pipemechanism is articulated about a vertical axis at the stern of thedredge to permit of pivoting the same about the stern.

Fig. 13 is likewise a partial side-section at l2-l2 of Fig. 1 showing asheave arrangement for passing one of the mooring lines of the dredgefrom a power driven drum to a mooring oi the bow; this sheavearrangement being also shown in front elevation in Fig. 14 comprising asection at l4-l4 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 15, 16, 1'1 and 18 are respectively a plan view, a longitudinaltransverse section, a longitudinal vertical section, and a sideelevation of a portion of the mechanism for maintaining the axis of therotary excavator substantially horizontal as the suction pipe is raisedor lowered.

Figs. 19, and 21 show the construction of the rotary excavator inaccordance with the invention required for excavating the harder andmore impervious gold bearing stratum referred to which lies beneath thesofter layer of surface clay; Fig. 19 being a side elevation of thesame, Fig. 20 a front end elevation and Fig. 21 a transverselongitudinal section.

Referring to the drawings the dredge comprises a barge I, on which aremounted a prime mover 2, such as a Diesel engine, having a drive shaft3, driving through belts 4, 5, 6, an electric generator 1 for supplyinglight, etc., a centrifugal suction pump 8, and a sealing water pump 9.The intake of the suction pump 8 is coupled through a water tight swiveljoint I!) to a pipe elbow I I connected to a suction pipe l2 projectingthrough a slotted opening or well 13 in the bow of the barge whereby thesuction pipe may be elevated and depressed about the horizontal axis ofthe swivel joint IE1, and thus may assume positions such as l4, I5, l6,l1, Fig. 2. A rotary excavator I8 is journaled to the projecting end ofthe suction pipe, and is rotated by a power driven shaft 19, parallelingthe suction pipe, as will be explained more in detail hereinafter.

The outlet of pump 8 comprises a pipe line extending upward from thepump, thence horizontally to the stern of the barge, and thencedownwardly to a water tight swivel junction at 2| with a pipe elbow 22joined to a flexible outlet pipe line 23 of rubber hose or the like,extending i to the gold extracting equipment located on the shore, or toa floating recovery and tailing disposal unit. By virtue of thisarrangement the barge may be pivoted about a stern post 24, coaxial withthe vertical axis of the pipe swivel joint 2|, whereby the barge may bepivoted about its stern to positions such as 25, 26, 21, Fig. 1.

For maneuvering the barge to positions such as 25, 26, 21 as well as foradvancing, backing or laterally displacing the same, a series of cables28 to 32 inc. are provided extending from power driven drums 33 to 31inc. respectively to moorings 38 to 42 inc., Fig. 8, respectively.Cables 28, 29 pass about opposite sides of a sheave 43, Figs. 2 and 12,journaled to the stern post 24 of the barge whereby the barge may bepivoted about the same. Also by taking up on one of the drums 33, 34 andslacking off on the other the barge may be displaced laterally in eitherdirection. Cables 30, 3| pass over pulleys 44, 45,

46 and 41, 48 to the moorings 48, 4| off the port and starboard bows,whereby upon taking up on one of the drums 35, 36 and slacking off onthe other the barge may be swiveled to port. or starboard about itsstern post 24. Cable 32 comprising a headline passes over pulleys 49 to52, Figs. 2 and 13, to a mooring 42 off the bow, whereby upon taking upor slacking off on drum 31 the barge may be advanced or backed up, thismovement entailing also aslacking off or taking up on drums 33, 34controlling cables 28, 29. It will be observed that the headline pulleys5D to 52 are substantially vertically in line with the stern post 24,and that after passing over these pulleys the headline entirely clearsthe roof of the dredge so as not to interfere with the pivoting of thedredge about its stern post as above described. Thus the barge may bemaneuvered as desired in the manner explained.

For elevating or lowering the suction pipe l2 about its swivel jointiii, to positions such as 14 to 11 inc., a cable 53 passes from a powerdriven drum 54 over pulleys 55, 5E, and sheaves 51, 58, 59.

The cable drums 33 to 31 inc. and the rotary excavator 18 are drivenfrom a shaft which in turn is chain driven at GI through a clutch 62from shaft 3 of the Diesel engine. A shaft 53 is in turn chain driven at64 from shaft 60, and in turn drives through a variable speed gear 65and a chain drive at 66, a shaft 61, Figs. 1 and 4, which in turn drivesthrough bevel gears 68, Fig. 4, the drive shaft [9 extending to therotary excavator l8.

Shaft 63 also drives through bevel gears 69 a shaft 10 which drivesdrums 35, 35 through a reversing gear 1!, manipulated by a gear shiftlever 12 having a neutral position for disengaging the gears, a variablegear 13, and a worm gear 14. Drums 35, 36 are coupled through a clutch15 whereby they may be simultaneously or independently driven. Shaft 18also applies chain drives as shown to shafts l6 and 11 geared throughthe reversing gears and worm gears shown to drums 33, 54 and 34, 31.Drums 35, 36 containing the port and starboard mooring cables 30, 3! areordinarily driven simultaneously through engagement of clutch 15, sothat by extending cables 35, 3| oppositely about their respective drums,the simultaneous rotation of these drums in either direction will slackoff on one cable to the same extent that it takes up on the other.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 7 to 11 inc., the rotary excavatorapplicable to the disintegration of the relatively soft surface layer ofclay-like earth consists essentially of a crown member 80, preferablycircular, a coaxial, flanged ring member 8| of larger diameter axiallydisplaced therefrom, and a plurality of cutting blades such as 82,preferably of metal strip, extending between the crown and ring membersand equally spaced about their peripheries. The blades are welded to thecrown member at an angle to the axis thereof providing effective cuttingand are curved outwardly from the axis toward the ring member and thencedownwardly and peripherally forwardly in the direction of rotation ofthe excavator to terminate in slots 83 of the ring member, the slotsbeing directed at an angle to the outer periphery of the ring member, asshown more particularly in Fig. 11, for providing more effectivecutting. The blades are secured in the slots preferably by welding. The

such as the ball bearings 81, on a flanged portion 88 of the pipesection 85.

For applying a power drive to the excavator an internal gear 89 isbolted, as at 98, to the inner ring member 88. Gear 89 meshes with aspur gear 9I keyed to the drive shaft I9.

Since the excavator operates while submerged, the gears and bearingsabove referred to are provided with a water-tight housing consisting of:a ring 92 bolted to ring 86, and having concentric peripheral groovesand ribs 93 fittin into conforming ribs and grooves of a flange 94 ofthe suction pipe; a ring 95 bolted to ring 88 and having concentric ribsand grooves 96 fitting into conforming ribs and grooves of a ring 91bolted to flange 88; together with packing rings 98, 99 held in place byrings I88, I8I bolted to rings 92, 91 respectively, the arrangementbeing thus such as not to interfere with rotation of the excavator.

The drive shaft I8 for the rotary excavator is likewise provided with awater-tight housing and is mounted in anti-friction bearings as shown inFigs. 4, 6 and '1. The housing comprises tubular segments such as I85 toI89 inc. threaded together as shown. The segments such as I01, Fig. 6,are provided with lugs I II having eyelets I I2 for bolting the driveshaft housing to the suction pipe I2 as shown in Fig. 1. Segments I81are also provided with anti-friction bearings I I3, through which thedrive shaft I9 is journaled.

The drive shaft I9 enters the excavator bearing and gearing housingthrough a housing II4 containing an anti-friction bearing H5 supportingthe shaft, the housing being sealed on the shaft entry side by a bushingH6 threaded to housing H4, and a packing I I1 disposed about the end ofthe bushing and about the shaft, held in place by a packing nut I I8.

The form of excavator shown in Figs. 19, 20, 21 which is adapted moreparticularly for excavating the hard substratum, comprises a drum-likecage I28 consistin of a crown member I2! and a coaxial flanged ringmember I22 of larger diameter spaced therefrom, a plurality of ribs suchas I23, extending radially outward from the crown member and thencelongitudinally to the ring member, the ribs being equally spacedperipherally thereabout and braced at intervals by members I24 extendingbetween adjacent ribs. Bolted to the ribs I23 as at I25 are a pluralityof scoop-like bucket members such as I26, I21, I28, presenting cuttingedges, such as I29, I38, in a common direction of rotation, and being ofarcuate contour as shown at I3I, for directing excavated material towardthe interior of the excavator and thence to the orifice of the pipesection 85. To this end this excavator may be substituted for that shownin Figs. 7 to 11 inc., by unbolting the latter from the flanged ringmember 85, and bolting the flange of this member to the flange of ringmember I22, as shown in Fig. 21.

For proper operation of the excavator shown in Figs. 19 to 21, inc., itsaxis should be maintained substantially horizontal as the suction all)pipe is elevated and depressed. A mechanism for accomplishing this isshown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 15, 16, 17 and 18. It consists essentially in ahollow knuckle joint I35 articulatable about a horizontal axis I36, andhaving an arm I31 joined to the terminus of the suction pipe I2; and afinger I38 bolted to pipe section which carries the rotary excavator; auniversal joint I39, coaxial with the knuckle joint, interposed in thedrive shaft I9, and an equalizing rod I48 having one end-pinconnected toan arm I42 of the knuckle joint finger I 38, the opposite end of theequalizing rod I48 being pin-connected at I43 to a stationary arm I44attached to a strut I45 mounting a bearing housing I46 rotativelysupporting a portion of the pipe elbow II forming part of the swiveljoint I8 as shown in Fig. 4.

The equalizing rod I48, suction pipe IZ, and the arms I42 and I44 thusform in efiect the sides of a parallelogram which is pin-connected atthe joints, and hence which elongates as the suction pipe is elevatedand contracts in length as the suction pipe is depressed, and in sodoing rotates the arm I42 attached to the knuckle joint finger I38 insuch manner as to maintain the axis of the excavator substantially fixedin direction, for example horizontal. The positions of the excavator inrelation to the suction pipe and equalizing rod when the pipe iselevated and when it is depressed are illustrated at I211, M841 and I2,I48 respectively of Fig. 18. Arm I44, Fig. 5, is provided with a seriesof eyelets I41 progressively spaced from the pivotal axis of the suctionpipe swivel joint I8, so that the direction in which the axis of theexcavator is maintained may be altered by shifting the point of pivotalattachment of the equalizing rod I31 from one eyelet to another. Thetype of excavator shown in Fig. 9 operates best when its axis ofrotation is maintained substantially coaxial with the suction pipe. Thisis accomplished by pin-connecting the equalizin rod I48 to the lowermosteyelet I41. With this connection the position of the excavator forvarious elevations is about as shown at I4 to I1 inc. of Fig. 2.

Considered somewhat more in detail, the knuckle joint I35 takes the formof a split drum consisting of an inner member I58 rotatable Within anouter member I5I. As shown more particularly in Fig. 17, the innermember I58 is integral with and opens into the arm I31; while the outermember I5I is integral with and opens into the finger I38, the outermember being bolted to the finger as shown in Fig. 16 at I52. Revertingto Fig. 17, the inner member is of such extent peripherally as toprovide an opening I53 into the finger I38 for all positions ofarticulation, the angle throughout which articulation is possible beingdetermined by the peripheral extent of the outer member I5I in relationto the size of the arm I81, as is evident from Fig. 17. The inner memberis outwardly flanged along its arcuate edges as shown at I54, theflanges being housed in conforming inner arcuate grooves I55 of theouter member. The outer member overlaps the inner member as shown moreparticularly at I56, Fig. 16, and a hold-down segment I51 is alsoprovided which is bolted to the inner member as shown and which overlapsthe portion I55 of the outer member to hold down the portion I58 of theouter member in such manner as to permit of free rotation between theouter and inner members. The outer member is also provided with awater-tight casing I58 which houses the universal joint as shown moreparticularly Fig. 16.

Reverting to Fig. 4, the air-tight swivel joint I0, which is a suctionjoint, comprises a pair of pipes II, I60 each having an outer flangeISI, I62 spaced slightly from a terminus I 63, I64 thereof, the terminusof pipe I 6'3 having an inner peripheral recess I65 articularly housingthe terminus I53 of pipe II- A split ring IE6 the halves of which aredetachably bolted at IE1, is provided at one end with an inner flangeIE8 lockingly engaging flange IEI of pipe II, and having at its oppositeend an exteriorly projecting flange I69 bolted to flange I62 of pipeI60. The exterior surfaces of the pipes between their flanges and theirtermini are preferably flared outwardly slightly as shown at I18. Anannular gasket I1I of flexible sheet material, such as rawhide, leather,rubber, etc. encircles this portion of the pipes including the outerjunction I12 between them. The opposite ends of this gasket lie alongtheflanges IBI, I62 as shown, the gasket being thus maintained snuglyoverlying the pipe joint by a pair of resilient metal rings, such asrings of helically coiled spring wire, I13, I14 extending about thepipes respectively.

A compression form of swivel joint employed for swivel joint 20, Fig. 2,is shown in detail in Fig. 12. In this modification the upper pipe 20terminates in a flange I15 having an inner peripheral recess I16articularly housing the terminus I11 of pipe elbow 22, which is providedwith a flange I18 spaced from the terminus. A split ring I19 of the typepreviously described, houses flange I18 of pipe 22 and is bolted toflange I15 of pipe 20. An annular gasket I86 of flexible sheet material,such as, rawhide, leather, rubber, etc., is interposed between flangesI15, I8I, the inner edge of the gasket engaging pipe elbow 22 as shown,and is held snugly against the same by a resilient metal ring I82 ofhelically coiled spring wire or the like. Pipe elbow 22 is preferablyprovided with a peripheral groove I83 for seating ring I82.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 14, the barge is provided with a sloping roofI84 mounted on supports I85 for protecting the machinery and workmen. Tothe same end the headline pulleys 50, 52 are provided with a housingI86.

Operation of the dredge consists in allocating the barge over an area tobe mined by taking up or slacking off on the various drums 32 to 31 inc.controlling the mooring cables until the barge is in the positiondesired. Thereafter the drums controlling the stern and headline cables28, 29, 32 are locked in position by adjusting the gear shiftscontrolling the same to their neutral positions. The gear shiftscontrolling drums 35, 36 and 54 are thereupon manipulated appropriatelyto adjust the excavator I8 to proper elevations as the barge is swungalternately to port and starboard about the pivoted stern mooringwhereby the excavator removes the earthy material in successive andpreferably contiguous arcuate furrows, so that the mining may be carriedon uninterruptedly. The disintegrated material thus removed passes upthe suction pipe I2, through pump 8, and through the outlet pipe 23which extends to shore, or to a floating recovery and tailing disposalunit, as shown in Fig. 3, where the mined material is delivered in theform of a water borne fine silt to the recovery equipment.

What I claim is:

1. In an hydraulic mining dredge of the character described, thecombination of: a suction pipe journaled at one end through a stationarybearing member for pivoting said pipe about a horizontal axis, a rotaryexcavator, a hollow knuckle joint articulatable about a horizontal axis,the free end of said suction pipe terminating in the arm of said knucklejoint, said rotary excavator being journaled to the finger thereof, anequalizing rod paralleling said suction pipe, said rod being pivoted atone end to the finger of said joint, said rod being adjustably pivotedat its opposite end to said stationary. bearing member whereby the axisof said excavator may be adjusted to remain substantially fixed indirection as the free end of said suction pipe is elevated anddepressed.

2. In an hydraulic mining dredge of the character described, thecombination of: an elevatable suction pipe projecting therefrom, saidsuction pipe terminating at one end in an elbow journaled through astationary housing mounted on said dredge for pivoting said pipe about ahorizontal axis, a hollow knuckle joint having an arm joined to theopposite end of said suction pipe and a finger articulatable about ahorizontal axis with respect to said arm, a rotary excavator journaledto said finger, an equalizing rod paralleling said suction pipe andhaving one end pivoted to said finger and its opposite end pivoted tosaid housing, and means for altering the points of attachment of saidequalizing rod to said finger and said housing in relation to the saidaxes of rotation of said suction pipe and knuckle joint for altering thedirection in which the axis of said excavator is maintained.

3. In an hydraulicmining dredge of the character described, thecombination: a suction pipe having a portion journaled at one endthrough a stationary housing for rotating said pipe about a horizontalaxis, a hollow knuckle joint having an arm joined to the opposite end ofsaid pipe and a finger articulatable about a horizontal axis, a rotaryexcavator journaled to said finger, an equalizing rod paralleling saidsuction pipe and having one end pivoted to said housing and its oppositeend pivoted to said finger thereby to maintain the axis of-saidexcavator substantially fixed in direction as said suction pipe israised and lowered, a drive shaft for said excavator having a portionparalleling said suction pipe and a portion paralleling said finger, anda universal joint coaxial with the axis of said knuckle joint, couplingsaid shaft portions.

4. In an hydraulic mining dredge of the character described: a pivotablyelevatable suction pipe, a rotary excavator, and a hollow knuckle jointhaving an arm joined to said suction pipe and a finger rotatablysupporting said excavator, said knuckle joint including a split-drumhaving an outer sector integral with said finger and. an inner sectorintegral with said arm, said inner sector being articularly housed insaid outer sector, said sectors providing an internal passage betweensaid arm and finger for all positions of articulation of said joint.

5. In an hydraulic mining dredge in combination: a suction pipe having aportion journaled at one end through a stationary housing for rotatingsaid pipe around a horizontal axis, a hollow knuckle joint having an armjoined to the opposite end of said pipe and a finger articulatable abouta horizontal axis, a rotary excavator anti-frictionally journaled tosaid finger over the orifice thereof, an equalizing rod paralleling saidsaid knuekle joint, coupling said drive shaft portions, means gearingsaid drive shaft to said excavator, a water-tight housing enclosing saidshaft, gearing means and anti-frictional bearings, and the meansanti-frictionally supporting said drive shaft in said housing.

OLAF GRUNDBORG.

